Alignment of Liquid Crystal on Poly(Vinyl Cinnamate) Photopolymer and Anchoring Direction

Abstract

A poly(vinyl cinnamate) photopolymer under irradiation of linearly polarized UV light acts as an aligning agent inducing orientation in adjacent liquid crystals. We have promoted the homogeneous as well as homeotropic alignment of liquid crystal using poly(vinyl cinnamate) as an aligning agent, under different experimental conditions. The anticipated orientation mechanism for the promotion of homeotropic alignment in the case of a liquid crystal/photopolymer composite system is discussed. From our observations we infer that in a liquid crystal/photopolymer composite system with a change of curing condition, the boundary surface condition at the substrates changes, which in turn affects the mode of alignment.